Selection Criteria

 What are selection criteria and how do you apply for a government job

Firstly, an explanation of the purpose of using selection criteria needs to be explained and why it is used in applying for a government job.

Ideally, in theory at least, each job will have a duty statement and job description which has been based on a skills analysis for that job. When a position is vacated the employer should re-assess the duty statement and selection criteria to see if anything is changed, and a new duty statement or job description should be written.

These duties should be assessed in the form of competencies and knowledge based on the level of importance to the job, i.e. what percentage of time is spent doing specific tasks.

So selection criterion are based on the job description for a particular position.  They consist of :-

• The qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience and personal qualities required to carry out the duties of the position.

• More often these days they contain outcomes to achieve.

The selection criteria is often written in such as way as to test a range of skills such as:-

• Problem solving,

• Written and verbal communication

• Conflict resolution,

• Team skills

Selection criteria is written to test the applicants ability to do the job.

The applicant needs to demonstrate in their selection criteria responses how they have performed the tasks in the past, what processes they used, and provide a case study example.

Applicants may need to demonstrate that they understand and can work within the values of the organisation, or within a specific environment,

For example,  in health sector, or universities, they must demonstrate they can work within specific legislation and guidelines that regulate these environments. 

In government funded organisations, including private schools, the selection criteria may also include the mission statement or values of the organisation. The applicant will need to demonstrate a knowledge and commitment to these values.

Essential and Desirable Selection Criteria

The selection criteria contains "essential" and "desirable criteria". These are drawn up from the duty statement that shows the value of each skill or knowledge. The applicant must address each selection criteria or the application will be discarded. Sometimes it appears that some question overlap, however, you cannot put “see above”, as many inexperienced applicants do, although it is tempting at times.

This is why it is so important to analyse each selection criteria and Winning Applications shows you how to do this with pages of examples. 

People make the mistake of applying for positions where they do not meet the desirable selection criteria, thinking it is not important.

The importance of desirable selection criteria

This is basically a way to test the market. 

"Desirable selection criteria" will depend on the employment market and availability of people with skills they require for the essential criteria. When unemployment is low employer's will place less importance on desirable criteria because they may need to entice good applicants outside the public service to apply.

If the employer receives a dozen applicants who meet all essential criteria and all, or some, of the desirable criteria, they will be looked at first and rated against an evaluation matrix. Note: It seem like yesterday when Pro-Active first began our online employment services in 2001 in Western Australia, the selection criteria was the only document that was looked at in public service recruitment.  It could have had 10 -18 criterion to answer.

In 2002 the rules were changed within the Western Australian Public Service. Only 3 mandatory selection criterion, generally based on EEO, OH&S and values of the Department/Organisation or some other criteria, were required.  The Public Service could take into account the cover letter, resume and selection criteria to weigh (compare using a formula)  the applicants against each other.

This is primarily because the process was so time consuming that some public service departments were not attracting quality applicants from the private sector.  However, most departments within the public service still use a lot of selection criterion because this process is easier to administer, is relevant to position (why replace something that works and doesn't need fixing) and ensures  recruitment is  based on merit.

What is the purpose of recruitment using selection criteria

The Public Service (both State or Federal Government Departments), Local Government, Statutory Authorities and Government funded agencies, use selection criteria to fulfill Equal Employment Opportunity principles, and it is supposed to get rid of nepotism and favouritism.  Each permanent job must be advertised, in-house, or in the paper.

Applicants are short-listed based on their ability to convince the selection criteria assessment team that they have the capabilities required to perform the role as set out in a selection criteria document.

The selection criteria process can actually benefit some applicants, because:-

• It provides applicants the opportunity to address the requirements outlined in the position's job description.

• Everyone is given equal opportunity to demonstrate that they can meet the job requirements by being asked the same questions in the selection criteria and at the interview.

How the decision to shortlist an applicant is made 

Briefly, the selection assessment team, or even an employment agency representative, will evaluate each application against responses to the selection criteria in order to select candidates who will be short listed for an interview.  There are several ways they will do this and will use some version of a matrix. It is not possible to expand upon the assessment process here, except to say you must address (answer) each selection criteria.

If you are interested you may find other resources advertised on these pages that provide several different selection criteria assessment tools. Try using this Google search box to use terms such as selection criteria + selection tools and selection criteria + assessment tools  or if you need more information on selection criteria in specific occupations search selection criteria + nursing  or selection criteria + teachers

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An applicant needs a model for addressing the selection criteria - a guide to look at and follow. Also, unless you know exactly how your selection criteria answers or responses are assessed, you simply cannot write an effective job application and you are wasting your time.

This is why the guide on how to write selection criteria is highly recommended 

Interviews in the Public Service and agencies that recruit by selection criteria method.

If you do get an interview, that required you to write a full set of selection criterion responses, you can be assured that all applicants will be asked the same questions that are directly related to each of the criterion. This makes preparing for the interview much easier. You can prepare your answers by expanding your on your application - that is, what you have already written in your responses to the selection criteria or "Statement Addressing The Selection Criteria". Note: Lloyd White also covers this in his book.

See a review on the book or go straight to suppliers Australia wide